Xavier 12/14 2:00 ESPN+

[bearcatjd]

Like I mentioned before, UC cannot get off to a slow start in this game. Takes out the home crowd advantage in addition to being down on the scoreboard.

I agree 100%. It seems we can't make baskets early & then for the game as a whole we shoot at low %. Why!Why!Why!
X doesn't play that good of defense. If I knew the answer or the solution I would be the coach. I don't want to lose this game!

[GoBearcats31]

This is not a "young" Shootout.

Xavier's Jerome Hunter (who has had a number of medical hardships) began his career at IU in 2018-19, where he medically redshirted that first year.

Similarly, UC's CJ Fredrick redshirted to start his college career at Iowa in 2018-19. He is 25 years old, whereas Hunter turns 25 later this month.

Zach Freemantle began his X career in 2019-20 (24 years old), while Cam Fletcher, Marcus Foster, John Hugley, Dante Maddox and Davyion McKnight all began in 2020-21. Aziz Bandaogo began his career at Akron that same season.

[leeraymond]

Former Xavier Coach Travis Steele once said that the toughest and most together team typically wins the UC-X game. I saw 3 UC interviews this week concerning the X game (Coach Miller, Mitchell, and Lukosius). In 29 minutes of talking about the game, not one of the three UC guys ever mentioned toughness as something that was needed to win the game.

Xavier is going to come out and try to embarrass UC early by punching hard and fast FIRST. It is funny. All BIG EAST teams appear to play the same way. They push the ball on every defensive rebound, they are physical under the boards, and the guards put extreme pressure on the ball by "getting into a ball handler's chest". Also, most of the BIG EAST teams are also pretty good shooting teams. Check this out, only one BIG EAST team scores less than 71 points a game (Seton Hall) and NONE gives up over 68.4 points a game (based on latest conference stats). Xavier scores about 81 points a game and gives up 66 points a game. Xavier also has wins over Wake Forest and South Carolina and losses to Michigan and TCU. Cincinnati is Xavier's 5th (fifth) Power 4 game.

Cincinnati must play with TOUGHNESS to win this game. Most importantly, UC MUST score consistently throughout the game. If UC has a bad scoring game on Saturday, it is NOT likely to win. Look at what happened at Villanova. Hey, let's face it, it is time for Coach Miller to win one of these #@#&% games. Cincy is AT HOME, the game is a SELL OUT, and UC will be wearing some new uniforms (not fond of the new uniforms). The stage is set for a UC win. Hopefully, it plays out that way.

[leo from jersey]

Former Xavier Coach Travis Steele once said that the toughest and most together team typically wins the UC-X game. I saw 3 UC interviews this week concerning the X game (Coach Miller, Mitchell, and Lukosius). In 29 minutes of talking about the game, not one of the three UC guys ever mentioned toughness as something that was needed to win the game.

Xavier is going to come out and try to embarrass UC early by punching hard and fast FIRST. It is funny. All BIG EAST teams appear to play the same way. They push the ball on every defensive rebound, they are physical under the boards, and the guards put extreme pressure on the ball by "getting into a ball handler's chest". Also, most of the BIG EAST teams are also pretty good shooting teams. Check this out, only one BIG EAST team scores less than 71 points a game (Seton Hall) and NONE gives up over 68.4 points a game (based on latest conference stats). Xavier scores about 81 points a game and gives up 66 points a game. Xavier also has wins over Wake Forest and South Carolina and losses to Michigan and TCU. Cincinnati is Xavier's 5th (fifth) Power 4 game.

Cincinnati must play with TOUGHNESS to win this game. Most importantly, UC MUST score consistently throughout the game. If UC has a bad scoring game on Saturday, it is NOT likely to win. Look at what happened at Villanova. Hey, let's face it, it is time for Coach Miller to win one of these #@#&% games. Cincy is AT HOME, the game is a SELL OUT, and UC will be wearing some new uniforms (not fond of the new uniforms). The stage is set for a UC win. Hopefully, it plays out that way.

so sad and telling when one mentions that UC needs toughness.

[GoBearcats31]

Sounds like UC opened as 8.5 point favorites

[BearKatz]

The tough minded UC Teams are long gone! Those days left with Mick! But?? What was the advantge back then being the tougher more physical team? What was Mick's record against X after he built the Program back up and was a perennial Top 25 Team every year?

[Lobot]

The hype video is here. Your narrator has a jersey retired.

https://x.com/gobearcatsmbb/status/1...234230114?s=46

[BearKatz]

The hype video is here. Your narrator has a jersey retired.

https://x.com/gobearcatsmbb/status/1...234230114?s=46

Great Video! Maybe Wes should show the current players some footage of past games that UC has won! And they can see the urgency, tenacity, toughness that is needed to WIN this game!

I sometimes wonder if these players under Wes have any idea just how important this game is!

[leo from jersey]

Great Video! Maybe Wes should show the current players some footage of past games that UC has won! And they can see the urgency, tenacity, toughness that is needed to WIN this game!

I sometimes wonder if these players under Wes have any idea just how important this game is!

Does CJ know??????Heck it is a family affair with him. With the NIL and social media does any really care like they used to care? These yearly losses are frustrating and can cause even the die hard Bearcat fan to see it as just a game. Is it in Wes' contract to win one?

[leo from jersey]

"We'll be sitting around the locker room listening to some music on the radio," says Tony Yates, the Cincinnati captain and a cool, cool man on the court. "He'll come roaring in and turn it off. He's afraid we won't be thinking about the game." No one will ever accuse a Jucker team of laxity. "His boys have marvelous discipline," says one coach admiringly. "He flogs his tigers until they even hate their mothers."

Concerning National Champion Coach Ed Jucker

[GoBearcats31]

Kenyon is on campus -- if I recall correctly, two years ago he went in the locker room at halftime and inspired UC's (almost) comeback. Or so they said.

[leeraymond]

"We'll be sitting around the locker room listening to some music on the radio," says Tony Yates, the Cincinnati captain and a cool, cool man on the court. "He'll come roaring in and turn it off. He's afraid we won't be thinking about the game." No one will ever accuse a Jucker team of laxity. "His boys have marvelous discipline," says one coach admiringly. "He flogs his tigers until they even hate their mothers."

Concerning National Champion Coach Ed Jucker

"Until they even hate their mothers"? That is pretty funny. Good one Leo.

[leeraymond]

Sounds like UC opened as 8.5 point favorites

What? UC as an 8.5 point favorite? That makes me nervous. So that means that Xavier is the underdog. Does X need any more motivation to win this game? Hopefully Vegas has this one right. I hope so.

Based on what I have been reading on this thread, there appears to be a lot of nervous energy concerning this game. I feel good enough about this team to predict that UC will take the win in a close one. UC will hit its shots tomorrow.

[swilsonsp4]

Kenyon is on campus -- if I recall correctly, two years ago he went in the locker room at halftime and inspired UC's (almost) comeback. Or so they said.

K-Mart either did or will address the team at practice today.

[GoBearcats31]

K-Mart either did or will address the team at practice today.

He did - see @GoBearcatsMBB social media posts